Paradoxurus montanus

Paradoxurus aureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Paradoxurus
Species: P. aureus
Binomial name
Paradoxurus montanus
Kelaart, 1852

Paradoxurus montanus, the Sri Lankan brown palm civet, is a viverrid species endemic to Sri Lanka where it is known as ශ්‍රී ලංකා බොර කලවැද්දා (Sri Lanka Bora Kalawedda) in Sinhala. Until 2009, it was considered as the same species as the golden palm civet, but proposed to be given specific rank.[1]

Characteristics

The body color of the Sri Lankan brown palm civet is dark, slightly greyish-toned wood-brown, and paler on the underside. The tip of the tail is yellowish-white.[1] It differs from Paradoxurus aureus. All the other morphological appearances is equal to P. aureus , by having large eyes with vertical pupils, round prominent ears and furry skin and tail. Its feet have retractable claws.[2]

Scent

The most remarkable feature of this species is their scent. This civet is known to emits a very pleasant odour from anal glands, where other civets emits very unpleasant odour.[3] This scent is reminiscent of Michelia champaca flowers, known colloquially as sapumal in Sinahala language. So, this animal is sometimes known as "Sapumal kalawedda - සපුමල් කලවැද්දා".[2]

Taxonomy

Initially, all three endemic civet species in Sri Lanka were considered a single species Paradoxurus aureus. But recent morphological studies of museum specimens, P. aureus was split into three separate species in the same genus Paradoxurus. The other two endemic species are Paradoxurus montanus and Paradoxurus stenocephalus.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Groves, C. P.; Rajapaksha, C.; Manemandra-Arachchi, K. (2009). "The taxonomy of the endemic golden palm civet of Sri Lanka" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 155: 238–251. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00451.x.
  2. 1 2 Yapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN 978-955-8576-32-8.
  3. ↑ http://wizzley.com/sri-lankan-brown-palm-civets-paradoxurus-montanus-non-ringtails-of-sri-lanka/
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